Starting filter for hydraulic pumps



May 9, 1950 H. K..1HR1G ET AL STARTING FILTER FOR HYDRAULIC PUMPS Filed July 26, 1947 /A/I/ENTOR5. HAROLD K. IHR/G EY THE/ ATTORNEKS. HAR/ws, /f/ECH, Fos-rek' an H efe/5 @Y by the accumulation of foreign material, and as a filter of low permeability creates a substantial pressure drop in the fluid passing therethrough, which is undesirable, it is a further object of the invention to provide means whereby after a relatively short initial period of operation the lter means will be rendered ineffective, and a direct now of operating fluid from the power tubing to the fluid-operated pump will be permitted. We prefer to accomplish this by providing a by-pass in parallel with the filter means, preferably in the form of a frangible plug, which is so designed that upon a predetermined rise in fluid pressure in the supply tubing the plug will be broken and thus permit a direct flow of operating fluid from the supply tubing to the iiuid-operated pump. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the accumulation of foreign material on the filtering surface of a filter normally reduces the permeability of the filter element, tending to raise the iuid pressure on the input side of the filter. We prefer to design our bypass means so that a predetermined accumulation of foreign material on the lter element will increase the iuid pressure in the Supply tubing to a Value at which it can open the by-pass means to permit such direct flow to the fluidoperated pump. By this provision, the opening of the by-pass means is rendered automatic after the initial charge of foreign material in the operating fluid is accumulated safely on the lter element or in the trap provided for such collection. lt will be apparent, however, that the by-pass means may be opened at will by simply increasing the volume (which in turn increases the pressure drop across the filter), of the operating fluid delivered through the power tubing, which can be effectively controlled, if desired, from the surface of the ground at the source of the high pressure operating uid, normally a triplex pump. This is an added feature of the invention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following specification and the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic, utility view, partially iii section, of my invention installed in a well;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the upper end of a portion of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the lower end of a portion of the invention, being a downward continuation of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, we show a surface pump I0, which may be of any conventional type, such as a triplex, adapted to supply operating uid, such as clean oil, under relatively high pressure to a power tubing II. 'I'he power tubing II passes downwardly through a tubing head i2 and a production tubing I3 suspended from the tubing head and disposed in a well casing I 4. The well casing I4 is provided with perforation I6 adjacent the lower end thereof to permit oil or other well fluid to ow from the producing formation around the well casing into the same.

Connecte to the lower end of the power tubing II is a combined filter and by-pass unit II, generally including a tubular shell I8 containing a by-pass element I9 and a lter element 20 secured in axial alignment and radially spaced from the inner wall of the tubular` shell I8 so as to provide an annular space 2| therebetween and a trapping space 23 adjacent the lower end of the filter element. The lower end of the filter and by-pass unit I'I is connected to the upper end of a huid-operated pump 24, which may be of any conventional design, which in turn is seated in an inlet member 25 having a check valve element 2G therein, the inlet member providing communication between the interior of the well casing I4 and the inlet of the fluid-operated pump 24 and being supported by the lowei end of the production tubing I3.

Referring to Fig. 2, the by-pass element I9 includes a tubular stem 28 having a screw plug 29 in the upper end thereof and provided with radial openings in the form of longitudinal slots 3G. The lower end of the stem 28 is surrounded by a collar 3l which is threaded into a tubular coupling 32, the lower end 33 of the stem being flared and clamped between the collar and the coupling. The lower end of the tubular coupling 32 is threaded into a coupling member 35. and clamped between the tubular coupling 32 and the coupling member 35 is an assembly comprising an upper annular ring 36, a washer 3l, a blowout disk 38 which constitutes a frangible plug, a lower annular ring 39 and a circular lter plate 48 having perforations 4I therein. The disk 38 is formed of soft metal, bre, or other suitable material, and is proportioned so that it can be broken by a predetermined fluid pressure rise I within the tubing coupling 32.

Threaded into the lower end of the by-pass element I9 is an upper collar 43 of the filter element 2U, the collar in turn having the upper end of an upper liner 44 threaded thereinto, the liner being provided with circumferentially spaced radial ports 45 with which registers an annular upper filter member 4S carried on the upper liner 44. The lower end of the liner 44 is threaded into the upper end of a central collar 47. The upper filter member 46 is held in place by being clamped at its upper end between the upper end of the liner 44 and the lower end of the collar 43, and by being clamped at its lower end between the lower end of the liner and the upper end of the collar 41.

Threaded into the lower end of the central collar 4`I is the upper end of a lower liner 49 which is likewise provided with radial perforations 50 which are covered by a lower lter member 5I carried on the lower liner. The lower end of the lower liner 49 is threaded into a lower coupling 52, the upper end of the lower lter member 5I being clamped between the central collar 41 and the lower liner 49, and the lower end of the iilter member being clamped between the lower coupling 52 and the lower liner 49. The filter members 46 and 5I may be of any suitable material, such, for example, as wool, ceramic material, or porous metal. Cotton or cellulose fibres are usually unsuited as lter material in our invention as such materials tend to deteriorate in the operating fluid at high bottom-hole temperatures, and in such case may allow accumulated foreign material on their exteriors to pass through the device into the pump weeks or months after starting, with the attendant disadvantages noted above. The lower end of the lower coupling 52 is connected to a nipple 53 which, as shown in Fig. 1, is adapted to be threaded into a connecting collar 54 connected to the upper end of the iluidoperated pump 24. As will be apparent, the nipple 53 and the collar 54 close the lower end of the tubular shell I8.

In operation, the device is installed in a well as illustrated in Fig. 1. Operating uid under high pressure is then supplied by the surface H'andembedelediv-therein;vliichcausesla'reduction130 mg Hlmust sesrsubsmnauy,before.the blow lluidpressure-continues u leidde?? eo ji1-nd'e-r-stoodlthe supplylof loper-atingifluid -to the ff-udeoperatedfpumpl-foauses'itto discharge well fluidiintoitheproductionetubingl I Brand-'to pump it upwardlytolthe l`vsurface ofthe. ground.

ses operating-fluidfldwslthrough the'lter'memdeposited i .enit-he sui-'face fof v the! filter #members inthe. iiuid permeabilityofifthe Jlter members, with ani attendant rise'i-niluid. pressure Lin -the interior lofrlthe tubularlf'shell-I. lSuch; rise -'i'n ntiliI the L force i exerted ac n yofll tllei blow-ut ldisk v 'sulll'cientf tollbreak and 'rupturelthe 'Lblow- "lout disk,=..at which'etimeioperating,r fluid can then -fflow from the-iinteriorzoftheshellthrough the longitudinal 'slots '130 and: theQtubular stem y28 and w downwardly-.throughfthe lby-pa'ss element II 9 and ,I thefinterior'iof therltenelement `2=Iltotherlluid- @operated :,pumpZd. 'Upon "ruptureffoff the :blowffout disk 38,' sobviously, fluidupressurez.insidefthe `shell l tliidrops,A `and tl'iereafter nolv operatingl fluid,

f or @at the most Ivoryl little;y :flows vthrough:either ofrthe filter members'fi` or 5I,.the:.entlre flow *beingfdirectly through the bygpassrelem'ent which,

it will be understood, iginfeffectinparallelwith the lter members. The broken portion ,of the blow-fout disk 38 vis caught: and `retained by 'the filter plate "4 D, `which *prevents any large.;A portion f 'of the `blow--disk wfrompupa'ssing yintov the :fluidroper-ated pumpfzll. FA-lso, ythe;p'erforations 4I in thedilter' plate 4I!- arefsufflcientl'y small to filter from the f operating fluid. passing` therethrough Panyrelatively large :particles of foreign materials,

which 'acts-'as a 'furtherl protection `for the-fluidoperated pump 24. Theiperforations Mare not, however;` sufciently-sr'n'all` to impress any sub- Vxsta-ntial -fiuid pressure differential --thereacross.

The characteristics of the filter' members 46 rand I -are so related-*tothe breaking'strength of lthe Vblow-'out diskfr38 that L the.` 'blow-out disk will 'not break orrupturel until sucient operatlring fluid nasi-passed *through i they power tubing, A- I I `-to clean from fitf most of the loose vforeign material adhering to the Linfnerfu'lall'thereof and `depositing suchi foreign material inthe trapping space' V23 voron the' lter-members. Consequently,

-f Ywhen the blow-out fdiskf 38Y finally ruptures, the F concentration `offoreignlmaterial in. theoperat- :ing iuidwis sufficiently -low .that it passes .through -the 'fluid-operated pump Zwithout injuring the vrsame. Aspointed'out above,V the blow-out disk 6 delivered 'fby .thersurfacep` pump f I 0. conttrolled zbreakingsof' .the blowout fdisk :38' may .be "desired :ein :some .'.instances, lalthough .normally automaticLbreakingthereof due to .a risein pres- 5 wsure of `thesopera'ting vfluid followingaclogging Vofthe filter members'll and-5 I will be preferred. .Alsof aswill'be appreciated, delaying .the entrance-1ofioperatingfluidldirectlyfrom the power tubing I I-liinto Ithe'lfluidoperatedpump '24 will 10 permit a new pump to wear itself .in by operal'tion 'to a substantial' extentibefore anysolidforeign' material isallowed to enter the same. .'Tln's isan added; advantage.

The foregoingexplanation will be adequateto li'p'ermit one` skilled in :the'a-rtto practice readily the invention under-varying conditions encounl#tiered in 'well production. However, for-the purpose of illustration, more detailed informationras toma specicinstal-lation is given herewith. vIna 320 well vin 'whichthe `iluid#operated pump has an average Llift of'vabout 3500 feet "the pressure-'f the operating fluid 'inthe power tubing Il will approximate 1750 poundsfper square inch during 'normal operationoi the'pump. The blow-out 2525 disklt 'is preferably designed to rupture when installed at V'a fluid l'pressure differential A'there- 'across of approximately 800 pounds'lperfsq-uare inch. Consequently, -infsuch an instal-lation `the pressure of the operatinguidfin the supplytubout disk' willrupture. For-'best operation, the filter membersiland--E are preferably'designed 44so tliatat'least'all of the'initial fluid contents of `the powerv tubing I'I *can pass--throughthe fiilter lF inembers before the' fluid-pressure rise will rupture the blow-out disk'-3. Fo1a-fluid'operated pump having a capacity of about ITS-barrels Vper day, 'supplied with operating 'fluid through ia "power tubing 'having-an internal'diameter of'i "549 inch and 3500 feet long,- all of theinitialcontents Aof' the power 'tubing fwillvpass through the filter members in lvabout 19' minutes. Therefore, in such an installation the filter'niembers it and'i g arepreferablydesign'ed-to pass loperating' fluid 45 therethrough:l for Yat 4least i S minutes before the uid-pressure'rise'will krupture the blow-out disk 38; which will veliminate''mostv of vthe 'free' detrimental foreign material from vthe operating '-luid. As will vbe appreciated, however, the act-ual `elapsed'timev required for such Ypressure rise in any Vparticular installation depends upon the amount of free solid'oreign material in the power tubing *I lfandtherate latwhich operat- Jing'i-iid issuppliedand this will vary greatly in practiceifrom welltdwellfand even from 1`finiev to time in the same'well.

Adilt'lrough we haveshownrand' described a preferred embodiment'fof-ithe invention, it willbe `Aunderstoodthat .ice'rtain'parts 'and elements supply means and said pump and adapted to filter operating fluid passing therethrough to said pump; and by-pass means connecting said supply means and said pump, in parallel with said filter means, said by-pass means being normally closed but adapted to open in response to a predetermined rise in fluid pressure in said supply means to permit operating fluid to flow through said bypass means to said pump without passing through said filter means.

2. In a huid-operated pumping device, the combination of: a fluid-operated pump adapted to be disposed in a well; production tubing for receiving pumped fluid from said pump and conveying it upwardly through the well; power tubing adapted to be disposed in said well and adapted to convey an operating uid downwardly therethrough to operate said pump; and a combined filter and by-pass means disposed in said power tubing and forming a fluid connection between said power tubing and said pump, including a filter element adapted to filter operating fluid flowing therethrough from said power tubing to said pump, and a by-pass element in parallel with said filter element and being normally closed but adapted to open in response to a predetermined rise in fluid pressure in said power tubing to permit operating uid to flow through said by-pass element to said pump without passing through said filter element.

3. In a fluid-operated pumping device, the combination of a huid-operated pump adapted to be disposed in a well; production tubing for receiving pumped fluid from said pump and conveying it upwardly through the well; power tubing adapted to be disposed in said well and adapted to convey an operating uid downwardly therethrough to operate said pump; and a combined lter and by-pass means disposed in said power tubing and forming a fluid connection between said power tubing and said pump, including a lter element adapted to lter operating uid flowing therethrough from said power tubing to said pump, and a by-pass element in parallel with said filter element and being normally closed but adapted to open in response to a predetermined rise in fluid pressure in said power tubing to permit operating fluid to flow through said by-pass element to said pump without passing through said filter element, Said combined filter and by-pass means being removable as a unit from said. power tubing.

e. In a huid-operated pumping device, the combination of: a fluid-operated pump adapted to be disposed in a Well; production tubing for receiving pumped fluid from said pump and conveying it upwardly through the well; power tubing adapted to be disposed in said Well and adapted to convey an operating uid downwardly therethrough to operate said pump; and a combined filter and by-pass means disposed in said power tubing yand forming a fluid connection between said power tubing and said pump, said combined filter and by-pass means including tubular means having a radial opening therein, a filter element registering with said opening and adapted to filter operating uid owing therethrough from said power tubing, and a by-pass element in the upper portion of said tubular means adapted to normally close fluid communication between said tubular means and said power tubing but adapted to open in response to a predetermined rise in uid pressure in said power tubing to permit operating fluid to flow through said tubular means 8 to said pump without passing through said lter element.

5. In combination with a duid-operated pump: tubular shell means adapted to be disposed in a well and connected between a power tubing and said fluid-operated pump; lter means in said tubuiar shell means and adapted to filter operating fluid owing therethrough; and by-pass means in said tubular shell means in parallel with said filter means, said by-pass means being normally closed but adapted to open in response to a predetermined fluid pressure exerted thereon to permit operating fluid to now therethrough and through said tubular shell means without passing through said filter means.

6. In a device for use in a well in combination with a huid-operating pump, the combination of: tubular shell means adapted to be disposed in a well and connected between a power tubing and a fluid-operated pump; tubular filter means in said tubular shell means and radially spaced therefrom and adapted to filter operating fluid flowing therethrough; and by-pass means in said tubular shell means above said filter means and in parallel with said lter means, said by-pass means including frangible means adapted to be broken in response to a predetermined fluid pressure exerted thereon to permit operating uid to flow therethrough and through said tubular shell means without passing through said lter means.

7. In a devi-ee for use in a well in combination with a fluid-operated pump, the combination of z tubular shell means adapted to be disposed in a well and connected between a power tubing and a duid-operated pump; lter means in said tubular shell means and adapted to lter operating fluid flowing therethrough; and by-pass means in said tubular shell means in parallel with said filter means, said by-pass means being normally closed but adapted to open in response to a predetermined uid pressure exerted thereon to permit operating uid to flow therethrough and through said tubular shell means without passing through said lter means, said by-pass means including a frangible plug which normally prevents ow'through said by-pass means and which is adapted to be broken by a predetermined fluid pressure exerted thereon.

8. In a device for use in a well in combination with a huid-operated pump, the combination of tubular shell means adapted to be disposed in a well and connected between a power tubing and a fluid-operated pump; tubular filter means in said tubular shell means and radially spaced therefrom and spaced a substantial distance above the lower end of said tubular means and adapted to filter operating fluid flowing therethrough, the space between said filter means and said tubular means providing a trap for the collection of foreign materials; and by-pass means in said tubular shell means in parallel with said filter means, said by-pass means being normally closed but adapted to open in response to a predetermined fluid pressure exerted thereon to permit operating fluid to flow therethrough and through said tubular shell means without passing through said filter means.

9. In a device for use in a well in combination with a fluid-operated pump, the combination of a tubular shell adapted to be disposed in a well and connected between a power tubing and a fluid-operated pump; tubular means within said shell and closing the lower end of said shell, said tubular means having an opening therein adapted to provide iuid communication between the interior of said shell and the interior of said tubular means; a filter element registering with said opening and adapted to filter fluid passing from said interior of said shell to said interior of said tubular means; and by-pass means disposed in said tubular means above said opening, said by-pass means being normally closed but adapted to open in response to a predetermined rise in uid pressure in said interior of said shell to permit operating fiuid to fiow therethrough and through said tubular means without passing through said filter means.

10. In a device for use in a well in combination with a fluid-operated pump, the combination of: a tubular shell adapted to be disposed in a well and connected between a power tubing and a fluid-operated pump; tubular means within said shell and closing the lower end of said shell, said tubular means having an opening therein adapted to provide fluid communication between the interior of said shell and the interior of said tubular means; a filter element registering with said opening and adapted to filter fluid passing from said interior of said shell to said interior of said tubular means; and a frangible plug disposed in said tubular means above said opening, said frangible plug being normally closed but adapted to open in response to a predetermined rise in fluid pressure in said interior of said shell to permit operating fiuid to flow therethrough and through said tubular means without passing through said filter means.

11. In a device for use in a well in combination with a fluid-operated pump, the combination of: a tubular shell adapted to be disposed in a well and connected between a power tubing and a fluid-operated pump; tubular means within said shell and closing the lower end of said shell, said tubular means having an opening therein adapted to provide fluid communication between the interior of said shell and the interior of said tubular means; a first filter element registering with said opening and adapted to filter relatively fine foreign material from fluid passing from said interior of said shell to said interior of said tubular means; by-pass means disposed in said tubular means above said opening, said by-pass means being normally closed but adapted to open in response to a predetermined rise in fiuid pressure in said interior of said shell to permit operating fluid to flow therethrough and through said tubular means Without passing through said filter means; and a second filter element disposed in said tubular means between said opening and said bypass means and adapted to filter relatively coarse foreign material from fluid passing therethrough.

12. In a fluid-operated pumping device, the combination of: a fluid-operated pump adapted to disposed in a well; means for receiving pumped fiuid from said pump and conveying it upwardly through said well; supply means adapted to be disposed in said well and adapted to convey an operating fluid downwardly therethrough to operate said pump; filter means between said supply means and said pump for filtering operating fiuid flowing to said pump from said supply means; and means for rendering said filter means inoperative when the permeability of filter means drops to a predetermined value and simultaneously permitting a flow of operating fluid from said supply means to said pump without passing through said filter means.

13. In a huid-operated pumping device, the combination of: a fluid-operated pump adapted to be disposed in a well; means for receiving pumped fluid from said pump and conveying it upwardly through the Well; supply means adapted to be disposed in the well and adapted to convey operating 'Huid downwardly therethrough to operate said pump; filter means connecting said supply means and said pump and adapted to filter operating fiuid passing therethrough to said pump; and by-pass means connecting said supply means and said pump in parallel with said filter means, said by-pass means including frangible means adapted to be broken in response to a predetermined rise in uid pressure in said supply means to permit operating fluid to flow in parallel with said filter means to said pump.

14. A fiuid-operated pumping device as -set forth in claim 13 including a filter for coarse material connected in parallel with said filter means and connected in series with said frangible means downstream therefrom, said filter being adapted to intercept pieces of said frangible means upon breaking thereof.

HAROLD K. IHRIG. EUGENE O. LAYMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,819,5351 Yungling Aug. 18, 1931 2,056,756 Wiedhoit Oct. 6, 1936 2,223,336 Hatfield Nov. 26, 1940 2,338,903 Coberly Jan. 11, 1944 

